Posted on Facebook 2/24

The many fans of Verdi, opera, oratorios, requiems, our MN Orchestra, and the MN Chorale have bought up ALMOST all of the tickets for this Friday and Saturday night’s performances of Verdi’s monumental “Requiem,” but some seats are still available. Directed by Roberto Abbado, an acclaimed opera and orchestra conductor (and a favorite of both MN Orchestra and SPCO audiences), this is a concert not to be missed – get your tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/374/-/verdi-requiem#.VOzCOvnF_l8

Considered by many to be Giuseppe Verdi’s most profound work, this Requiem is one of the most popular pieces ever written for voices and orchestra. In his inimitable and wonderfully helpful style, our friend Scott Chamberlain wrote about this piece, and performing it, and why it must be experienced “live” on his blog last week.  He describes this masterpiece as “…a work that explores universal issues of life and death, and the relationship of humankind to God. And it does so through a kaleidoscope of emotions that touches on grief, anger, and terror… but also joy, hope, and fulfillment.” Read the rest of Scott’s post here:  https://maskoftheflowerprince.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/verdis-requiem-a-preview/

This concert is approximately 90 minutes long and is performed without intermission. If you’d like to preview the piece, listen to the recording by Bernstein with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus that the Orchestra has provided – it’s free on Spotify and you can find the link towards the bottom of the webpage for this concert:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/374/-/verdi-requiem#.VOzCOvnF_l8

We hope to experience Verdi’s Requiem with you this weekend!

Posted on Facebook 2/20

Did you enjoy one or more of the “Shakespeare Winterfest” concerts? Then come back for “the main event” (per Rob Hubbard) tonight or tomorrow night.

In his review for the Pioneer Press, Mr. Hubbard also says, “So Thursday's midday concert at Minneapolis' Orchestra Hall was a significant arts event for the Twin Cities and beyond. Vanska and the orchestra showed off their expertise with the sound of Sibelius, painting one evocative scene after another with an intricately layered interpretation full of emotional depth. Preceded by a fine performance of Hector Berlioz's song cycle, ‘Les nuits d'ete,’ it proved a grand festival finale.” Read his full review here:  http://www.twincities.com/music/ci_27561387/review-minnesota-orchestras-shakespeares-winterfest-finale-was-main

And for the StarTribune, Michael Anthony writes:  “This is Sibelius in a lighter vein — atmospheric, colorful, descriptive — with music as enchanted as the play it illustrates. It is also music of high contrast. A fearful storm — surging seas and howling gusts of wind — opens the suite. Later comes the haunting ‘Oak-Tree’ with its anguished flute solo and an eloquent lullaby — an inspired piece scored for two clarinets, harp and muted strings.” Read his full review here:  http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/292789771.html

Don’t miss this one! Tickets and more info here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/372/-/shakespeare-winterfest-the-tempest

We hope to see you this weekend!

Posted on Facebook 2/18

Osmo Vänskä speaks with MinnPost’s Pamela Espeland about Sibelius, the premier of his suite from “The Tempest” and his history with the larger work, the importance of soft dynamics (“you feel the music on your skin”), his very busy schedule, working with Kevin Smith, the Cuba tour, Judy Dayton, how the Orchestra is playing these days, involving the players in all kinds of decisions, and more.

Take a few minutes to read Pamela’s extensive interview – you will be glad you did! Find it here:  http://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2015/02/osmo-v-nsk-sibelius-softness-cuba-tour-and-minnesota-orchestra-today

Thanks, Pamela!

We hope to see you at this weekend’s concerts. More details and tickets here:
 http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/371/-/shakespeare-winterfest-the-tempest#.VNS4453F_l8

Posted on Facebook 2/17

Sibelius & Berlioz! Suds & Cider! Mosaic Unveiling! Lobby Festivities! What a week!

The final concert in the Minnesota Orchestra’s “Shakespeare Winterfest” series will be performed this Thursday morning and Friday & Saturday evenings at Orchestra Hall, with Osmo Vänskä conducting Berlioz’ “Les Nuits d’été” and Sibelius’ Selections from “The Tempest” (with Joe Dowling narrating and Mezzo Heather Johnson singing on “The Tempest”). Read our perspectives on this program here:  http://www.saveoursymphonymn.org/february-2015/february-19-21-concerts-the-tempest

Thursday night the first of two “Symphony, Suds & Cider” events will be held at Sociable Cider Werks (1500 Fillmore St. NE in Minneapolis), featuring a brass quintet from the Orchestra. Watch a 1-minute video promo of this event here:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/u38ipht38yjgozq/MNO_Suds-Cider_02-09-15%20h264.mov?dl=0 

On Friday night the “All Together Now” mosaic for which many of you had your picture taken on Opening Weekend will be unveiled! Find more details (including a ticket discount code) from our friends at Orchestrate Excellence here:   http://www.orchestrateexcellence.org/minnesota-orchestra-excitement-continues-giant-mosaic-suds-and-cider-carnegie-hall/

On Thursday Phillip Gainsley presents a free concert preview at 10:15 am in the auditorium. On Friday and Saturday he interviews Glenda Dawn Goss, noted Sibelius scholar, and Joe Dowling in the Target Atrium at 7:15 pm. And in the lobby you will find a costume exhibit presented by Guthrie Theater Costume Rentals.

We hope to see you at one or more of these events this weekend!

Posted on Facebook 2/10

“Original” – we hear that a lot. “Wholly original” – hmmm, what else is going on here? “Wholly original masterpieces” – OK, that really demands one’s attention! Who can back up such a claim? Well, our friend Scott Chamberlain can!  He uses that phrase relative to Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’été” and selections from Sibelius’s “The Tempest” (the two pieces on the final “Shakespeare Winterfest” concert Feb. 19-20-21). Furthermore, he says “Berlioz and Sibelius were two of the most relentlessly creative, original composers to have ever lived.”

Read his rationale in his blog post from this morning:   https://maskoftheflowerprince.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/genius-shakespeare-berlioz-and-sibelius/

Then come to one of the concerts to hear the wholly original sound worlds of these masterpieces. Tickets, more info (and even recordings of these pieces via Spotify) can be found here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/371/-/shakespeare-winterfest-the-tempest#.VNS4453F_l8 

Thanks for the fabulous insights, Scott!

Posted on Facebook 2/6

Music. Poetry. Sibelius. Osmo.  Julie Stewart, a member of SOSMN’s Leadership Team, wants you to catch the excitement about the Feb 19-20-21 concert (two weeks from now), just as she did when she was learning more about the program.

Julie writes: “When my husband and I first bought tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra’s final ‘Shakespeare’ concert (The Tempest – Feb. 19-21), we selected the concert for one simple reason: Osmo was conducting.  Frankly, we’d be willing to hear just about anything Osmo chose to perform.  But the selections that night – well, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic.  There was going to be ‘incidental music’ written for ‘The Tempest,’ and even if the composer was Sibelius, I’m a bit of a snob about incidental music.  It just seems – well, incidental.  Not major.  And the other work was going to be something song-y by Berlioz, you know, the guy who wrote ‘Symphonie Fantastique’ - not my favorite work, or at least, it wasn’t when I last really listened closely to it, which was about forty years ago.

“Then I decided I’d better educate myself a bit about these selections.  Oh my – what a difference a little knowledge will make!  Let’s start with Berlioz’s ‘Summer Nights’ (Les Nuits d’été).   Based on gorgeous poems by Theophile Gautier, these songs are sensuous, delicate, passionate, filled with longing – I haven’t heard anything so lovely in a long time.  And if the orchestra and mezzo soprano Lilli Paasikivi do these even half as beautifully as the recording I heard, we’ll be in for a huge treat.   As for ‘The Tempest’ – have you heard this music?  I take back everything snobby I ever said about incidental music – this is real music, it’s Sibelius, and the world’s foremost Sibelius interpreter will be on the podium to reveal it to us.  It will be fascinating to see and hear how Sibelius has used his musical gifts to interpret Shakespeare’s masterpiece, and along with Paasikivi singing Ariel’s songs we’ll have Joe Dowling to pronounce those immortal lines, ‘This rough magic I here abjure ….’  

“So now?  I’m going for the music.  It’s great music, not to mention great poetry.  Hope to see you there!”

Thanks, Julie, we’ll see you at the concert!

More info and tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/371/-/shakespeare-winterfest-the-tempest#.VNS4453F_l8

Posted on Facebook 2/10

Chatting with musicians after concerts: PRICELESS. Just hang around the lobby for a few minutes (they need to put their instruments away), then introduce yourself to one of the musicians who comes out to greet audience members, and ask them anything you want! 

Last weekend we talked to several of them about this week’s repertoire and soloist, the spectacular Gil Shaham. Phrases like “the greatest violinist playing today” fell from the lips of more than one string player, and everyone added that he was just about the nicest guy in the music world. So we asked violist Sam Bergman if he could tell us a little more about Gil’s musicianship.

Sam writes: “When it comes to violinists (and this is coming from a recovering violinist), there's flamboyance, there's showmanship, there's ego, and then, there's Gil Shaham, who doesn't need any of the above. He dazzles without showing off, crafts perfect musical phrases without so much as hinting at all the work that went into them, and delivers phenomenal performances night after night with seemingly no effort at all. He's a wonder, a musician's musician who I've looked up to since I was a high school kid, and we're so lucky to have him soloing with the Minnesota Orchestra this week!”

Thanks, Sam!

Learn more about the concerto Mr. Shaham is playing this weekend, his insights into it, and why he has made it one of his signature pieces in this short WSJ article. It begins: “In his day, Erich Wolfgang Korngold was a wildly successful, Oscar-winning film composer, his thickly romantic music accompanying the swashbuckling adventure and romance in Errol Flynn movies...”:   http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303795904579433693052052208 

Then be in the audience to hear this wonderful concerto in the hands of “the greatest!” Tickets and more info here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/368/-/all-the-world-s-a-stage-a-midsummer-night-s-dream#.VNVqlJ3F_l8

And remember to hang around after the concert to talk to a musician! You’ll be glad you did.

Posted on Facebook 2/9

“…one section cooperatively pitted against another….”  Um, what? We asked MN Orchestra principal trumpet Manny Laureano for his thoughts as he prepares for this weekend’s concerts. Read his reflections below, then get your tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/368/-/all-the-world-s-a-stage-a-midsummer-night-s-dream#.VNVqlJ3F_l8   (Thursday morning and Friday night performances are at Orchestra Hall; Saturday night's is at Northrop.)

Manny writes, “When people talk about the Minnesota Orchestra they talk about a specific sound it possesses that is unique. They talk about the virtuosic yet warm sound of the strings, the majestic power of its brass section, the crystalline clarity of the woodwinds, and the impossibly metronomic accuracy of the percussion. It all adds up to the aforementioned versatility of the orchestra that bathes its listeners in stentorian warmth. 

“Thus, it is always a great and rare experience to hear one section cooperatively pitted against another in a masterwork such as the Konzertmuzik for Brass and Strings. To be sure, Hindemith's language keeps all the players busy with long winding phrases for the brass section of the Minnesota Orchestra and fiendishly difficult passages for the choir of strings. The utter seriousness of the opening gives way to moments of beautiful reverence before the triumphant close of the final pages. 

“This rarely-played piece shows off two sections of the Minnesota Orchestra in an opulent, incandescent way and is absolutely not to be missed!”

Thanks, Manny! We will be there!

Posted on Facebook 2/7

The Guthrie opens “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Feb. 7. The MN Orchestra performs Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Feb. 12-13-14. Coincidence? We wonder!

The concert also features superstar violinist Gil Shaham playing one of his signature pieces, Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s lushly romantic Violin Concerto, and Maurice Ravel’s shimmering Suite No. 2 from “Daphnis and Chloe,” and Paul Hindemith’s powerful “Concert Music for Strings and Brass.”

More info about the concert can be found here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/368/-/all-the-world-s-a-stage-a-midsummer-night-s-dream#.VNVqlJ3F_l8   Thursday morning and Friday night performances are at Orchestra Hall; Saturday night's is at Northrop.

More info about the Guthrie’s production can be found here:  http://www.guthrietheater.org/plays_events/plays/_midsummer_nights_dream

Catch them both!

Posted on Facebook 2/5

“The quickest way to develop tendinitis in the practice room.”  SOSMN’s friend, professional clarinetist Rena Kraut, sheds some light on the inner-workings and challenges of playing Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from “Daphnis and Chloe.” It’s on the MN Orchestra’s Feb 12-13-14 program. Read more about Rena at the end of this post.

Rena writes, “They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Rather than show you a gauzy depiction of Chloe in a meadow, dancing to the seductive undulations of Daphnis' flute, I thought I’d offer an inside peek at what is really going on behind the music. Ravel was a master Impressionist composer, most widely known for ‘Bolero,’ which he once described as ‘a piece for orchestra without music.’ ‘Daphnis and Chloe’ is in no danger of falling into that category. His Suite 2 from the ballet, which took him over three years to complete and nearly caused him a nervous breakdown, opens with a pre-dawn soundscape: dew trickling from rocks, shepherds calling, birds letting loose their song. Your typical pastoral moment. When the rays of the sun fully break over the horizon, it's one of the most glorious moments in orchestral music.

“This is one page of what is going on while you're taking in the warmth of that sunrise.

“Remember that part in ‘Amadeus’ when the Emperor complained about Mozart writing ‘too many notes?’ This is also the popular opinion of most of the upper woodwinds at this point. As you might notice in the picture, Ravel writes a staggering 36 notes per measure, all to be played in the span of three seconds. Literally. Which is why this piece is sometimes tenderly referred to as the quickest way to develop tendinitis in the practice room. Oh, and it's supposed to be incredibly delicate and quiet in the beginning as well, to the point where the clacking of your metal keys is louder than your actual pitches.

‘But for all the pain and suffering in the proverbial woodshed, there is onstage a wonderful payoff for musicians and audience: the lushest, warmest, most goose-bump-inducing auditory experience in Western music. 

“Go ahead. Bask in it.”

Thanks, Rena. We shall!

Tickets and more info for Thursday morning or Friday night at Orchestra Hall, or Saturday night at Northrop Auditorium here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/368/-/all-the-world-s-a-stage-a-midsummer-night-s-dream#.VND5zGjF_l8

Yan Pascal Tortelier conducts this program, which also includes Gil Shaham on Korngold’s lushly romantic Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and Hindemith’s “Concert Music for Strings and Brass.”

Rena Kraut writes, teaches, and performs around the Twin Cities with various ensembles and with Muse Salon, a chamber music duo. From time to time, she can be found happily subbing in the clarinet section of the Minnesota Orchestra.

Posted on Facebook 2/4

Blazing brass and soaring strings! Hindemith’s “Concert Music for Strings and Brass” in the embouchures and hands of our MN Orchestra musicians will deliver a spectacular sonic experience Feb 12-13-14. Listen to it while you follow the score in this YouTube video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjG5f0OXhq4

Then grab your tickets for Thursday morning or Friday night at Orchestra Hall, or Saturday night at Northrop Auditorium.  Tickets and more info here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/368/-/all-the-world-s-a-stage-a-midsummer-night-s-dream#.VND5zGjF_l8

Yan Pascal Tortelier conducts this program, which also includes Gil Shaham on Korngold’s lushly romatic Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from “Daphnis and Chloe.” Such wonderful stuff! We hope to see you at one of these concerts.

Posted on Facebook 2/3

The wonderful Gil Shaham has made Erich Korngold’s lushly romantic 1945 Violin Concerto a signature piece – hear a preview (or all of it!) here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC4dwtTRzrY 

Then come to hear him perform it in person with our MN Orchestra at Orchestra Hall on Thursday morning, 2/12 or Friday evening, 2/13, or at Northrop Auditorium on Saturday evening 2/14 (what could be more romantic for Valentine’s Day?). Tickets and more info here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/368/-/all-the-world-s-a-stage-a-midsummer-night-s-dream#.VND5zGjF_l8

If you’d like to read more about this amazing composer and concerto, here’s a link to the program notes:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/images/programnotes/1415/worlds_stage.pdf

Yan Pascal Tortelier conducts this program, which also includes Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from “Daphnis and Chloe,” and Hindemith’s “Concert Music for Strings and Brass.” More about those compositions in our next post!

Posted on Facebook 2/1

If you’re looking for a sweet evening out for yourself and your sweetie, look no further! Sarah Hicks conducts our MN Orchestra and three soloists in a charming program of Italy-inspired music called “That’s Amore” on Saturday, Feb. 7. Hey, this could be an early Valentine’s present! Tickets are just $30-$50 and are available here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/415/-/that-s-amore#.VM2SjmjF_l8

Vocalists Sarah Jane McMahon, Patrick Miller and Sal Viviano have all performed extensively on opera, musical theatre and concert stages. Read their bios in the program notes here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/images/programnotes/1415/thats_amore.pdf

From a portion of Mendelssohn’s “Italian” symphony to “Funiculì, Funiculà” to “O mio babbino caro” to “Mambo Italiano” to the Intermezzo from “Cavalleria rusticana” to music from “The Godfather” (and much much more), this program is sure to please!

Posted on Facebook 2/3

Our brilliant MN Orchestra woodwinds will charm the socks right off you with their lovely solos in Lars-Erik Larsson’s too-short (10-minute) consistently lovely “A Winter’s Tale.” It opens this week’s concerts, so don’t be late or you’ll miss this set of four gentle and folk-songy vignettes written to accompany a 1937 radio broadcast of Shakespeare’s play. At times flowing like a brook waking from its winter’s hibernation, or jaunty and prancing, or carefree and almost laughing, or a bit melancholy and aching, you’ll almost feel the snow melting as you listen to this piece.

And hey, if you’re of Swedish descent and your ancestors came from Åkarp (near Malmö), be sure to come to celebrate the home-town composer! 

Tickets (very few remain) and more info here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/366/-/a-winter-s-tale-new-world-symphony#.VMz3ZGjF_l-

Also on this week’s program are the hot young violinist Augustin Hadelich (read about him in our Jan. 31 post) in the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and the justifiably popular “New World Symphony” by Antonín Dvořák, all conducted by Christopher Warren-Green.

Coming to Thursday morning’s performance? Don’t miss the Concert Preview with Phillip Gainsley, Christopher Warren-Green and Augustin Hadelich at 10:15 in the Auditorium!

Posted on Facebook 1/31

Next weekend: let the HOT young violinist Augustin Hadelich warm up your winter with the Tchaikovsky violin concerto! Watch this YouTube video to hear him play and talk about his training and his recovery from severe injuries incurred in a fire at his Tuscan farmhouse:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgrG5BmQu8E&feature=youtu.be

Then grab your tickets for Thursday morning or Friday night, Feb. 5 or 6, right away! Here’s the link:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/366/-/a-winter-s-tale-new-world-symphony#.VMz3ZGjF_l-

Christopher Warren-Green conducts this program, which also includes Lars-Erik Larsson’s “A Winter’s Tale” and Dvořák’s “New World Symphony.” More about those pieces in our next post, but really, grab those tickets while you can – they’re going fast!